Bloom Day April 15, 2009

April 16, 2009

Hey everybody. Well it’s been a month since I last posted. Time sure flies. Because of the nice weather we’ve been having here in Austin I’ve been working in my yard like a madman. I had 9 yards of decomposed granite delivered from the Natural Gardener to make my backyard patio and I’ve been planting beds and trying to revive my grass that looks like %&#@ from last summer’s drought. I’ve got a LOT of flowers blooming though and I want to send a shout out to Carole and May Dreams Gardens (http://maydreamsgardens.blogspot.com/) for coming up with the idea of Bloom Day, which occurs on the 15th of each month and is the day that garden bloggers take photos of all of the flowers that are blooming in their gardens.

Jerusalem Sage

First up is the crazy Dr. Seuss-looking “Jerusalem Sage” (phlomis viscosa”). This has to be about the brightest yellow this side of the sunflower.

Statice

Next up is the statice (limonium sinuatum) which has been blooming like crazy all winter long. These flowers look the same when dried as they do when fresh. They also come in a purple variety.

I planted these this past fall and have saved the tab with the name somewhere but can’t seem to find it. Anyone have any idea what these are called?

Black and blue sage

The first blooms on the black and blue sage (salvia guarantica).

Snapdragons and dusty miller

These snapdragons have been blooming all winter as well

Castor bean

Well it’s not exactly a beautiful bloom, but the castor bean plant (ricinus communis) is blooming so it gets a place here. You know this plant is where castor oil and ricinus comes from.

Here’s the Mexican Flame Vine (Senicio Confusus)

Jasmine vine I (the frangrance is incredible)

Mealy Blue Sage

Mealy blue sage (Salvia Farinacea) is HUGE and covered in blooms.

Stick Verbena

Got this plant last year (Verbena Bonariensus) at the Rose Emporium in San Antonio. Really a cool plant. Lots of little ones coming up in the garden this year.

Verbena

Here’s another verbena blooming all over and thru the tri-color sage (salvia officinalis)

Mexican Bush Sage

(Salvia leucantha) which seems to have forgotten that it is supposed to bloom in the fall.

Bi-color sage

Bi color sage (Salvia coccinea)

Dianthus

Hot pink snapdragons with my new red convertible in the background (how did that get in there?)

Moss Rose

Moss rose (portulaca grandiflora) is blooming like crazy.

Unidentified aloe plant is still blooming.

Blackfoot Daisy

Early blooms on the blackfoot daisy (melampodium leucanthum)

Dianthus "Spooky Mix"

Peggy Martin Rose

Sweet Allysum

Marigold

Petunia

Dianthus

Viola

Flowering Tobacco

Nicotiana alata is blooming with very fragrant blooms.

Unidentified Rose

Unidentified Rose

Unidentified Opuntia

Unidentified Opuntia

Mexican Olive

I love this tree, the Texas Wild Olive (cordia boissieri). It is covered all summer in these white crepe blooms.

Cross Vine

Nectarine

Petunia

Petunia

Princess Flower

Another favorite the Princess flower (tibouchina candolleana) is still covered in flowers.

Buddeleia "Inspiration"

Petunia

Impatiens

Cenizo

I was surprised to see this flower on the cenizo a.k.a. Barometer Bush. It usually only blooms after it rains.

Oleander

First flower of the season on the Oleander

Bottlebrush

More flowers on the bottlebrush bush (callistemon rigidus)

Honeysuckle

Lantana "horrida"

Morning Glory Bush

This is a new addition to my garden. Saw one blooming at Barton Springs Nursery last summer and knew I had to have it. It’s the morning glory bush (ipom0ea adeniodis)

The Pineapple Guava (Acca sellowiana) is covered in flowers. Can’t wait for the fruit to form.

California Poppy

Dianthus "Spooky Mix"

Euphorbia "Crown of Thorns"

Viola

Ok, so I cheated a bit and didn’t describe everything on here but it’s after 11 pm and I leave in the morning for a week in San Francisco. Hope you all enjoy the blooms and I thank you for visiting my site. I am going to do my best to get caught up on my posts and be a bit more consistent in May.
Happy gardening!

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6 Responses to “Bloom Day April 15, 2009”

Hi Horselips Randy –
Was on my way to bed and saw your comment to Carol so moseyed over to take a peek. Good grief, what a fabulous array of plants and flowers!
We had repeated freezes followed by hail up here in NW Austin, so your barely frosted bloom day feels like visiting someone at least one zone south.

I think your mystery flower is Salpiglossis. I’ve never seen it growing in a garden…aways in a greenhouse or conservatory.

Hey! I just finished…11:57…whew! Your post looks great, I love the pic of the cactus with the fresh granite and the white frames. Have a great time in San Fran! It’s time for a crawl, don’t ‘cha think?

Wow, Randy, you’ve got a riot of color in your gardens! Be forewarned re the Morning Glory Bush: it gets HUGE. I mean, seriously HUGE. I grew it for a while and had to let it go because it was hogging so much space. I do miss the blooms, though.

Wow, you have quite a variety of flowers and the most amazing thing is that although we both live in Austin we grow completely different things. I don’t remember seeing a sunflower blooming so early. And I’m very enticed by the castor bean and the flowering tobacco. I’m pretty sure I have seeds for the latter around here somewhere but I obviously forgot to sow them in time.

It looks as though you are having spring summer and fall all at the same time. I haven’t even put my sunflower seeds in yet! You must have a very sheltered spot there to have had many of your plants blooming all winter. I think I would like to move there! Beautiful healthy blooms.

Wow, just gorgeous. I agree with Jenny; looks like you’ve got all seasons covered, even in this heat. Glad to know the ID of that incredible yellow. Yummy! Am definitely adding cordia & Indian carnation to the list.